Cheaper Pesto: Multiple Ways!

I’ve been wanting to make pesto for a while now, but I kept forgetting to buy pine nuts. When I did realize how expensive pine nuts were, I figured it would be worth trying to make pesto with other kinds of nuts. So I tried toasted walnuts and the pesto came out just as perfect! The following recipe makes 3-4 servings and creates a really rich pesto. So if you don’t like your pesto that rich, you should probably try and substitute some of the olive oil with some other liquid.

Ingredients

2 and 1/2 cups fresh basil leaves

3/4 cup walnuts, chopped

2 cloves garlic

2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup olive oil

Juice of half a lemon

Salt and pepper (to taste)

Directions

1. Heat a skillet and toast the chopped walnuts for around 3-4 minutes.

Toasting the walnuts before putting them into the food processor

2. Put the basil leaves, toasted walnuts, garlic, Parmesan cheese, lemon in a food processor. Pour in olive oil as the ingredients are getting mixed. Put in salt and pepper to taste.

And the pesto’s almost ready!

Pesto Recipes

Pesto Pasta

Pesto Pasta

Boil some pasta of your choice according to package’s directions. Toss it in some pesto and cherry tomatoes or chopped tomatoes on the vine. Enjoy!

Caprese Pesto Sandwich

Caprese Sandwich with Pesto

Take a loaf of French bread and cut it in half. Having rubbed butter on both sides of the load, lightly toast it on the skillet. After lightly toasting it, rub pesto on both sides. Cut some fresh mozzarella slices. Top it with fresh chopped tomatoes and basil leaves and oregano. Enjoy!

For more suggestions on what to make with your pesto, check out Food Network’s link. It has some great ideas including Pesto Pizza, Pesto Potato Salad, Pesto Frittata and a Pesto-Tomato Soup